Correlation between 18F-FDG PET CT SUV and symptomatic or asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the difference of 18F-FDG PET/CT images between the symptomatic and asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as the correlation between the standard uptake value (SUV) and the symptomatic/asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: A study dataset of 57 pulmonary tuberculosis cases was retrospectively assembled and analyzed. Among these cases, 30 were diagnosed having symptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis and 27 were asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis. PET/CT was performed in all 57 cases. The clinical data, CT images and PET/CT radioactive uptake data were analyzed using statistical data analysis software. RESULTS: All 57 cases showed radioactively high uptake, with the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of the lesion ranging from 1.60 to 27.30 and a mean value of 6.63±4.82. The symptomatic cases had an SUVmax of 8.76±4.97 and the asymptomatic cases had an SUVmax of 4.27±3.39. The SUVmax as well as singular or multiple lesions showed statistical differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. CONCLUSION: The symptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis cases show significantly higher SUVmax than the asymptomatic cases. Based on the criteria of SUVmax greater than 2.0 to define active lesions, 100% of symptomatic cases might have active lesions while 70.4% of asymptomatic cases might have active lesions. Therefore, focused attention should be clinically paid on the asymptomatic cases of pulmonary tuberculosis to avoid miss diagnosis and delayed treatment.

Time-trend analysis of tuberculosis diagnosis in Shenzhen, China between 2011 and 2020.

Objective: To describe the trend of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in the migrant city Shenzhen, China, and analyze the risk factors of diagnosis delays. Methods: Demographic and clinical information of TB patients from 2011 to 2020 in Shenzhen were extracted. A bundle of measures to enhance TB diagnosis had been implemented since late 2017. We calculated the proportions of patients who underwent a patient delay (>30 days from syndrome onset to first care-seeking) or a hospital delay (>4 days from first care-seeking to TB diagnosis). Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of diagnosis delays. Results: During the study period, 43,846 patients with active pulmonary TB were diagnosed and registered in Shenzhen. On average, the bacteriological positivity rate of the patients was 54.9%, and this increased from 38.6% in 2017 to 74.2% in 2020. Overall, 30.3 and 31.1% of patients had a patient delay or a hospital delay, respectively. Molecular testing significantly increased bacteriological positivity and decreased the risk of hospital delay. People >35 years old, the unemployed, and residents had a higher risk of delays in both patient care-seeking and hospital diagnosis than younger people, workers, or migrants. Compared with passive case-finding, active case-finding significantly decreased the risk of patient delay by 5.47 (4.85-6.19) times. Conclusion: The bacteriological positivity rate of TB patients in Shenzhen increased significantly but the diagnosis delays were still serious, which may need more attention when active case-finding in risk populations and optimization of molecular testing.

Control of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in urban populations: findings from a cross-sectional prevalence survey in Shenzhen, China.

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among urban populations is generally lower than rural residents, but the disease burden is still high. We conducted a cross-sectional prevalence survey of COPD among residents aged ≥40 years in an emerging city Shenzhen, China from September 2018 to June 2019. Through multi-stage stratified random sampling, a total of 4157 eligible participants were invited to complete a questionnaire and to take the spirometry test; 3591 with available data were enrolled in the final analysis. Individuals were diagnosed with COPD if the post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio was less than 0.7. The estimated standardized prevalence of COPD among residents over 40 years old in Shenzhen was 5.92% (95% confidential intervals [CI] 4.05-8.34). Risk factors for COPD included elder age (adjusted odds ratio 1.206, 95% CI 1.120-1.299 per 10-year increase), smoking over 20 pack-years (1.968, 1.367-2.832), history of chronic bronchitis (1.733, 1.036-2.900) or asthma (4.920, 2.425-9.982), and exposure to higher annual minimum concentrations of ambient SO2 (1.156, 1.053-1.270 per 1-µg/m3 increase). Among 280 spirometry-diagnosed patients, most (221, 78.93%) patients were classified as mild COPD (GOLD stage I). This survey found that the prevalence of COPD in Shenzhen is low and most patients had mild symptoms, thus recommended screening using spirometry in primary health care to detect early-stage COPD. Increased risk from the exposure to air pollutants also indicated the urgent need for environmental improvement in city settings.

Effects of minimally invasive approaches on chronic subdural hematoma by novel YL-1 puncture needle and burr-hole methods.

The objective of this study is to investigate effects of minimally invasive approaches on outcome of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) by novel YL-1 puncture needle and burr-hole methods. A retrospective analysis was performed in 158 hospitalized CSDH patients from January, 2013 to December, 2017 in Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Patients' gender, age, history of trauma, volume of hematoma, hematoma location, application of urokinase, surgical approach, the operation time, hospitalized time, and CT scans 3 months after discharge were recorded. Prognostic indicators including symptom relief and post-hospital neuro-imaging findings were extracted to evaluate surgical efficacy. Statistical methods were conducted to evaluate surgical efficacy. Both YL-1 puncture needle and burr-hole surgeries had a satisfying follow-up (93.67%). There was non-significant group difference in follow-up results (p > 0.05). While YL-1 needle group needs less operation time ((p < 0.001) and hospitalized time (p < 0.001), gender (p = 0.144), age (p = 0.394), history of head trauma (p = 0.445), volume of hematoma (p = 0.068), hematoma location (p = 0.281), and application of urokinase (p = 0.545) were shown non-significantly associated with these two minimally invasive approaches. Volume of hematoma was significantly associated with follow-up outcomes (p = 0.016). Novel YL-1 puncture needle and classic burr-hole craniotomy are both proved to be safe and effective minimally invasive surgeries, which can provide an early intervention and minimally invasive strategy for neurosurgeons.

[Effects of two treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis in tuberculosis control project areas: a comparative study].

OBJECTIVES: To search for an ideal therapeutic regimen for multidrug resistant tuberculosis conforming to the situation of China. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four patients with rifampin-resistant tuberculosis, 114 multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB) and 40 resistant to other drugs, in Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, and Shenzhen, 107 males and 47 females, aged 39 (19-77), were randomly divided into 2 groups: 85 patients in the group of drug-resistant regimen, 3RFT AM Ofx Pto PAS-INH/5RFT Ofx Pto PAS-INH regimen, including rifapentine (RFT), amikacin (Am), ofloxacin (Ofx), protionamide (Pto), para-aminosalicylic acid-isoniazid (PAS-INH) for 3 months and then RFT, Ofx, Pto, and PAS-INH for 5 months, and 69 in the retreatment regimen group undergoing 3 H3R3Z3E3S3/5 H3R3E3, including isoniazid (H), rifampin (R), pyrazinamide (Z), ethambutol (E), and streptomycin (S) for 3 months and then H, R, and E for 5 months. Sputum smear was checked and the sputum smear conversion rate was calculated as an effective treatment indicator 3, 6, and 8 months later. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen of the 154 patients were treated for a good 8 months. The sputum smear conversion rate 8 months after treatment of the drug-resistant regimen group was 65.9% (56/85), significantly higher than that of the retreatment regimen group [40.6% (28/69), chi2 = 9.834, P = 0.002]. Eighty-five of the 114 MDR-TB patients had been treated for a good 8 months with a sputum smear conversion rate of 61.8% (42/68), significantly higher than that of the retreatment regimen group [39.1% (18/46), chi2 = 5.638, P = 0.018]. Sputum smear conversion at the end of the 8th month was related to age, course of disease, therapeutic regimen, and the type of drug-resistance (all P < 0.05). The side-effect rate of the drug-resistant regimen group was 23.9% (17/71), higher than that of the retreatment regimen group [18.6% (8/43)], but not significantly (chi2 = 0.446, P = 0.504). CONCLUSION: The drug-resistant regimen recommended above is more effective than the retreatment regimen and should be considered in the areas where the WHO guideline fails to be followed or drug sensitivity test (DST) cannot be conducted and adjusted according to the results of DST and treatment.

Incidence of HBV variants with a mutation at nt551 among hepatitis B patients in Nanjing and its neighbourhood.

AIM: To investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains with a mutation at nt551 in surface gene among hepatitis B patients in Nanjing and its neighbourhood. METHODS: By using mutation-specific polymerase chain reaction (msPCR) established by our laboratory for amplifying HBV DNAs with a mutation at nt551, 117 serum samples taken from hepatitis B patients were detected. RESULTS: The results showed that 112 samples were positive for nt551A, 4 samples were positive for nt551G. One sample was positive for nt551T. No nt551C of HBV DNA was found. The incidence of HBsAg mutants with G, C, T, A at nt551 among 117 samples was 3.42%, 0%, 0.85%, 95.73%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In Nanjing and its neighbourhood, hepatitis B patients are mainly infected with wild genotype HBV. The incidence of mutants with a mutation at nt551 in HBV genome is significantly lower than that in wild genotype HBV DNA (P<0.01). The necessity of adding components of HBsAg mutants to HBV vaccine needs further investigation.

[Effects of occupational stress on immunological function, glucose and blood lipid of female workers in oil-field].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of occupational stress on immunological function, glucose, and blood lipid of female workers in oil-field. METHODS: 900 female workers working in oil-field as observation group and 220 female not working in oil-field in 11 work types of oil industry in oil-field were selected as control group randomly, occupational role, personal strain, and personal abilities of two groups were measured with occupational stress inventory-revised (OSI-R). Then, 100 workers were selected randomly from two groups Blood lipid, blood sugar, and immunological function were measured. RESULTS: Occupational role and strain in observed group are significantly higher than control group (P < 0.05), However, there is no difference on personal abilities in two groups. Blood sugar, IgG, IgA, IgM, IL-6 content in observation group was significantly higher than control group, but CHO, HDL, LDL, IL-2 content was significantly less than control group (P < 0.05). TG content had no significant difference between both groups. There was positive correlation between occupational role, strain and, blood sugar, immunological function but negative correlation between personal abilities (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results show that blood sugar content was increased, CHO, HDL, LDL were decreased and immumological function was changed because of occupational stress. There was positive correlation between occupational role, strain and blood sugar, immunological function but negative correlation between personal resources.

A mutation specific polymerase chain reaction for detecting hepatitis B virus genome mutations at nt551.

AIM: The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is considered to be one of the best markers for the diagnosis of acute and chronic HBV infection. But in some patients, this antigen cannot be detected by routine serological assays despite the presence of virus. One of the most important explanations for the lack of detectable HBsAg is that mutations which occur within the "a" determinant of HBV S gene can alter expression of HBsAg and lead to changes of antigenicity and immunogenicity of HBsAg accordingly. As a result, these mutants cannot be detected by diagnosis assays. Thus, it is essential to find out specific and sensitive methods to test the new mutants and further investigate their distribution. This study is to establish a method to investigate the distribution of the HBsAg mutant at nt551. METHODS: A mutation specific polymerase chain reaction (msPCR) was established for amplifying HBV DNA with a mutation at nt551. Four sets of primer pairs, P551A-PPS, P551G-PPS, P551C-PPS and P551T-PPS, with the same sequences except for one base at 3' terminus were designed and synthesized according to the known HBV genome sequences and the popular HBV subtypes, adr and adw, in China. At the basis of regular PCR method, we explored the specific conditions for amplifying HBV DNAs with a mutation at nt551 by regulating annealing temperature and the concentration of these primers. 126 serum samples from patients of hepatitis B were collected, among which 16 were positive for HBV S DNA in the nested PCR amplification. These 16 HBV S DNAs were detected by using the msPCR method. RESULTS: When the annealing temperature was raised to 71 degrees, nt551A and nt551G were amplified specifically by P551A-PPS and P551G-PPS; At 72 degrees and 5 pmole of the primers (each) in reaction of 25 microl volume, nt551C and nt551T were amplified specifically by P551C-PPS and P551T-PPS. 16 of HBV S gene fragments were characterized by using this method. 14 of them were positive for nt551A, one was positive for nt551G, and the other one was positive for nt551T. The results were confirmed by nucleotide sequencing. CONCLUSION: The mutation specific polymerase chain reaction is a specific and sensitive method for detecting the mutations of HBV genome at nt551.

A novel hepatitis B virus mutant with A-to-G at nt551 in the surface antigen gene.

AIM: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) mutant of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the important factors that result in immune escape and cause failure of immunization. In this study we reported and characterized a novel HBV mutant with A-to-G at nt551 and intended to provide theoretical data for prevention of HBV infection in China. METHODS: A methodology comprising polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifying, M13 bacteriophage cloning and nucleotide sequencing was used to analyze the sera of the pediatric patient who was hepatitis B (HB) immune failure. Expression plasmids containing the mutant S gene and a wild-type (adr) S gene were constructed respectively and the recombinant HBsAg were expressed in COS-7 cells under the regulation of SV40 early promoter. The recombinant proteins were investigated for their immunological reactivity with different monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against "a" determinant and vaccine-raised human neutralizing antibodies. RESULTS: It was found that there was a new point mutation at nt551 of the HBV (adr) genome from A to G, leading to a substitution of methionine (Met) to valine (Val) at position 133 in the "a" determinant of HBsAg. Compared to the wild-type HBsAg, the binding activity of the mutant HBsAg to mAbs (A6, A11 and S17) and to vaccine-raised human anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: According to the facts that the patient has been immunized with HB vaccine and that the serum is anti-HBs positive and HBsAg negative, and based on the nucleotide sequence analysis of the mutant HBV S gene and its alteration of antigenicity, the HBV is considered to be a new vaccine-induced immune escape mutant different from the known ones.

[Study on the efficacy and safety of short-term treatment including fluoroquinolones anti-tuberculosis drugs for rifampicin resistant pulmonary tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of short-term treatment including fluoroquinolones anti-tuberculosis drugs for rifampicin resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in those areas carrying out the 'TB control project'. METHODS: TB cases involved in this study were from TB drug resistance surveillance in Heilongjiang province, Zhejiang province and Shenzhen city from 2004 to 2006. TB cases with rifampicin resistant were randomly divided into the treatment group (including fluoroquinolones anti-tuberculosis drugs group) and the control group (re-treatment regimen group). The treatment group was treated with 3RFT AM Ofx Pto PAS-INH/5RFT Ofx Pto PAS-INH while the control group was treated with 3 H3R3Z3E3S3/5 H3R3E3. Efficacy of short-term treatment was analyzed by per-protocol analysis (PP analysis) and intention-to-treat analysis (ITT analysis) while drug adverse reactions was also observed. RESULTS: (1) 154 patients with rifampicin resistant pulmonary tuberculosis were recruited among them, 25 (16.2%) were only resistant to rifampicin, 114 (74.0%) to MDR-TB and 15 (9.8%) to others (resistant R+S, resistant R+E and resistant R+E+S). 114 TB cases completed the full course of treatment,with 71 in the treatment group and 43 in the control group. (2) Sputum negative conversion rate of the treatment group and the control group were 78.9% and 65.1% (chi2CMH = 4.558, P = 0.011) respectively, by per-protocol analysis. Sputum negative conversion rate of the treatment group and the control group were 65.9% and 40.6% (chi2CMH = 0.272, P = 0.001) respectively, by intention-to-treat analysis. The sputum negative conversion rate of the treatment group was higher than in the control group when treating rifampicin resistant pulmonary tuberculosis and MDR-TB patients. (3) Three patients withdrew in each of the two groups because of adverse effects to the drugs. Rates of adverse reaction to drugs appeared to be 23.9% (17/71) and 18.6% (8/43) in the treatment and in the control groups, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of treatment including fluoroquinolones anti-tuberculosis drugs group seemed better than the re-treatment regimen group in treating patients with rifampicin resistant pulmonary tuberculosis and those MDR-TB patients.

[An epidemiological study on the ecological environment related to Nontuberculous mycobacteria in Shenzhen city of Guangdong province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of Nontuberculous mycobacteria in the environment of Shenzhen city and its related sensitivity to drugs. METHODS: 145 samples in the environment of Shenzhen city were collected and the samples were isolated, identified and its drug sensitivity were detected according to the "Procedure of Bacteriological Determination Regulation for Tuberculous Diagnosis", issued in 1995 by the Antituberculosis Association of China. RESULTS: All together, 53 strains of Mycobacteria were detected from the 145 sample, including 6 of them isolated from the polluted water in the hospital before disinfected, 4 from the polluted water in the hospital after disinfected, 4 from the dirt of air condition in the hospital, 34 from the polluted water in the residential area, 3 from the ocean water and 2 from the fountain. M. nonchromogenicum, M. avium, M. fortuitum, M. gordonae, M. genavense, M. chelonae and M. intracellulare were identified. CONCLUSION: Nontuberculous mycobacteria seemed to widely exist in the environment of Shenzhen city and the ratio of drug-resistant was high. Attention should be paid to the influence of Nontuberculous mycobacteria on humans in order to formulate effective control measure.